The Lakers have been on a roll for the better part of a month with just about everything going their way. Luka Dončić looks like an MVP, LeBron James is embracing his role as a third fiddle and Austin Reaves has stepped up in recent fourth quarters.
The only thing that isn’t working? In-bounds passing.
A flaw that has existed throughout the season, the Lakers have seen it pop up multiple times in recent games. It’s been a pain in the side of head coach JJ Redick, so much so that he brought it up unprompted after the team’s win against the Pacers.
“I do think that Sunday we will have our second practice since Dec. 27,” Redick said. “I’m really excited about it. I do think we’re just going to do a clinic on inbounding the basketball. I think it’s really important for us that we can make that eight-foot pass.”
Just past the midway point of the fourth quarter, Austin Reaves was the one with an errant inbounds pass, leading to a turnover. While the Nets did not capitalize on it, it was yet another instance of the Lakers being unable to put the ball in play.
It’s a very silly flaw to have and one that you would think would be fixable without needing a whole clinic in a practice for it. So, while Redick might be joking a little bit about having a clinic for inbounding the ball, it might not actually be all that much of a joke.